Janet Mattox and incumbent James Carr, both of the People’s Party, have beat out Conservative Party candidate Bernie Ment to fill two trustee seats as a result of the March 18 East Syracuse village election.
Results of the election were 126 votes to Mattox, 116 to James Carr and 74 to Bernie Ment.
Carr has been on the village board for the past seven years.
“It feels good to get the support of the community,” said Carr. “It feels good to know they think I’m doing a good job.”
Mattox, a retired customer service supervisor for the United States Postal Service, said this was the first elected position she’s ever ran for.
“I can’t wait to get started,” Mattox said. “I’d like to thank the voters for coming to and voting on an election that wasn’t really promoted or advertised. I really appreciate the vote of confidence and I hope I can do the village proud by my actions on the board.”
Voter turnout was low, with less than 200 votes total, which Ment said was caused in part by a cold campaign period.
“This year was a particularly bad year for campaigning because of the incredibly cold temperatures during the month of February,” Meant said.
Although this is the fifth time Ment has run for and lost this trustee election, he said he will continue to be involved in the political sphere as chairman of the DeWitt Conservative Party and also secretary for the Onondaga County Conservative Party.
“I know how Howie Hawkins feels. This is my fifth loss in East Syracuse,” Meant said.
Results of Justice election:
Justice Joseph Zavaglia ran unopposed to continue his seat as a village justice in East Syracuse. Zavaglia received a total of 154 votes and won the election unanimously. The term of his seat expires in March 2017.
Zavaglia has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, politics and law from Binghamton University and is a graduate of the New England School of Law. He has been a member of the New York State Bar since 2002 and has an office on South Clinton Street in Syracuse.
Zavaglia was sworn-in as a village justice in November 2014 to fill the seat of former Village Justice Donald Benack, who passed away in March 2014.
Hayleigh Gowans is a reporter for the Eagle Bulletin. She can be reached at [email protected].
